It is an optimistic approach of the US to initiate the Thar energy project in a situation when the country is facing grave energy crisis.
More importantly, while the US is pressurising Pakistan to reject the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, this might prove to be strong alternative for US to claim their stance.
According to Pakistan Security Report 2011, the security situation in Pakistan is improving as compared to the previous years. This offers unique opportunity for Pakistan to invite not only US but companies from different countries to exploit the reserves of 175 billion tons of coal.
As the initial phase of the project will be completed in three years, we can engage other companies at the same time, with their short-term and long-term projects, to work in parallel.
Investment by the US in such projects is appreciated because such steps will help improve the already-strained bilateral relations and it will help US to see Pakistan through the prism, other than Afghanistan.
IZHAR HUSSAIN
Larkana